TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Department of Health announced on Tuesday (March 26) that the Polam Kopitiam at Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 is suspected of being involved in a food safety scandal. The results of the investigation are expected within two weeks.
The health department inspected the restaurant two days ago after receiving a report from the New Taipei City Health Department.
Samples were taken from kitchen workers and cutting boards, and stool samples were taken from the deceased at the hospital. If the same pathogen is detected, it will be considered a confirmed case of food poisoning.
Two New Taipei City residents dined at Polam Kopitiam on March 22. After consuming vegetarian fried rice noodles and pandan leaf drinks, they began to experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.
Lin Kuan-chen, head of the Food and Drug Division at the Taipei City Department of Health, said that during the inspection, it was found that the restaurant staff did not have health check reports and the utensils were unclean.
The restaurant has been given until Wednesday to rectify these issues. If the issues are not rectified by the deadline, the restaurant could face a fine of NT$ 60,000 to NT$ 200 million under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.
